Direction indicator for vehicles



'Aug 2H, i923.

J. E. RUTHERFORD DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES mem-.12:22:

`Filed May 5. 1922 NVENTR,

Em @um Patented ug. 2l, i923.

avare ilillClliJ0 JOHN NLM-.En antenna/sonner TORONTO, curano, CANADA.

, T 0 all 'w71 om t may concern: y

Be 1t known that I, JOI-IN Emmi: Butti-IER roue, of the cityA of Toronto, in the county Y 10i York, Province of Ontario, Canada, a

subject ot the King of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in llirection Indicators `for Vehicles,

- of which the iiollowing'fis a specification. Y

Vrlhis invention relates to devices used on motor cars to indicate the drivers intention to turn to the right or leit or to stop. lVhile numerous devices for this purpose have been `1nvented,.a large number of them are open to the objection that the signal is given by illuminating the sanie,.`and therefore-cannot be used in daylight, .orii'used it is very difheult to distinguish the signal given.V Another very-'common arrangement is to provide pointers of various kinds, which pointers are mechanically or electrically operated for giving the desired signa-ls, most' o1 which arrangements are awkward inoperation o-r expensive toniale. Y

My object is to devise a mechanically operated signal which will be effective in operation, compact in construction, which will give a suiiiciently visible signal both during the day and night, which may be manufactured at a reasonable cost, and in which the'sigrnals will only be visible whenit is i desired -to give an indication of the driversf intention.V y Y Fig. 1 is a front view of the device Fig'. 2 a vertical section of the same on a larger scale;

. Fig. 3 a. rear view of vthe lower part of FigLQgand .Y L

Figi. 4 a horizontal section on the line A indicate corresponding parts in the different f figures.

" Y a suitable linish so that it will act as a light:

reiiector.

Secured in Jfront the lower half of the casing 1 is a yframe 3, which frame extends down below the lower edgeof the casing and is provided with a rearwardly` directed.

`flange 12 extending partly under the casing.y .ll'linged .on vthe upper side of the iframe 3 lupi 11 ln the drawings like numerals of reference Y Y DIRECTION" runorrroa son vnnrctns.

`Application Vfiled May 3, 1922. l Serial No. 558,271.

j is a door 4,' which closes the upper part O the Jfront of the casing, a suitable catch 5 being provided Jfor holding the door closed.

Secured to the back of the door 4 and visible through a suitable opening in its face is the plate G having letters or numbers perforated therein to indicate the license `designation oia the car. The Opening in the door 4: may be glazed, if desired, or the plate 6 may be dispensed with and the liconse numbers or letters may be applied directly to the transparency.

The 'frame is preferably glazed, and behind the glass is placed a shield 8 having an opening formed; at the centre thereoi1 through which a top7 sign may be displayed, and an opening 7 adjacent each end preferably of arrow or other suitable shape YForindicating Bight or LLeit ln front of each opening 7 in the shield 8 is placed a slide 9, while behind the openiner 7 at one side only of the shield 8 is placed a third slide 10 with the word Stop pertcrated'therein. Each of the slides 9 and the slide 10 will be provided with a suitable l by inea-ns of which they may be operated, The lug on the slide 10 is so placed that when the slide 9 in front of it is operated the lug on the slide 9 will engage the lug on the slide 10 and simultaneously move the slide 10. Y

Behind the slide 10 and shield 8 is placed a screen 3 of a color contrasting' with the color of the shield 8.

For operating the slides 9 and lOlprovide the ollowin mechanism.

Supported on the end of the flange 12 re mote from thestop slide 10 is a cage 19 in which are journalled two guide pulleys 13 and 14, while at the other end of the flange is supported a cage 2O in which is ournalled a single Iguide pulley 1 5. Preferably the bolts used for securing the cages in place will also act as the journals'for the guide pulleys. Round the guide pulley 13 passes arable 16. which in practice may be connected at one end to the brake lever of the carV and having its other end connected to the lug 11 onthe stop slide 10. VRound the guide pulley 14 passes a cable 17, which will be connected at one end to the slide 9 adjacent the stop slide 10, the other end of the cable being led to a position convenient for operation by `the driver: pulley 15 passes a cable 1.8, which at one end will be connected` to the other slide 9,

and its other.endledl to positionveonventral openingin thejshieldf-S, nor: to provide ientfor' operation.` by the driver. ln pme-j the stop slide .10, as .it vwill. only-be necessary tice these cables 17 vand 18 may be led tothev to give ndication of the intention t0 turn Vsteering column ot the car, where they may totheright or left-,it heinglu'nderstoodthat be provided 'withl suitable`- grips foi-operas. itnoindieation toiturnis "given that 1t is T0 tion by the driver. Y the. intentionito go straight ahead. Thisg To return. lthe slide 1()V to normal positionV Vfront signal,',will,` of course, be arranged to l mount on the cablel, between Vthe cage beV operatedsimultaneously when the rear;V Vand the lug a compression coil spring 21, signal isloperated.V`V .Y l0. the end-.of the spring bearing against the lVhen the lamp y22` is `illuminated the usual side ofthe `cage, thelatter being provided. redtaillight for-tlie'gear Vwill-.bedisplayed jwith suitable holes through which the cahie ',tlirough the. eentralfopening in' the s hield'S7 `passes. Fromy this const-ructionfit,will be gandrthe ylicense..number-iwil'l always be il- .A seen that as the cable lois drawnfupon to vluminated. 1 o 1 Y l-operate,.the slide. 10, the spring is com- .:YVith this arrangeinentthe.lainpwQZ Will 80 (pressed,v andrinurnediadjel;v upon the release-f last considerably longerV thanris .the case ',:ojlgthe cable the spring ret-urnsthe slide to with numerous signals now-known in which jnorinal position. y .,thclainps'are beingeontinuallyswitched on 'lfo return the slides i) to normal position andoito give the desired: indications.

720,1 .provide a single ocompressiongspring 24 'Froniithe Aconstruction described 'it Awill S5 Y through which the cables 17 and 1S pass7V be seenthat lphave/devise'd'a `eonstruetion p-.the endsoif. the spring bea-ring against the which .will satisfactorily attainthe objects plugs .on `.the .slides 9.- Froin this arrange-- o'lflmy `invention .as setout inthe preamble nient it JfollowsV that as either the cable 17 offthis specification. dlt will beunderstood, 252or18 is'drawn upon to-moi'e'rits respective oitl course,V that I dok notdesire to limitV my- -90 slide 9, the spring is compressed against the self to the particular. Iarrangement lshown lug on;the opposite slide 9, -which 'slide is oi operating the-various slidesv asotherar- Atherefore `held `iirinly in a non-indicating .rangements for-the same purpose might position T.lhen the cable isl released the easily7 be devised. .V. v A 2 -30'sljde whichjhas been used is returned to What I.elaimzasfmyri-nvention is:- 95

' non-indicating position. From this con .1.; ln. a .vehicle .signahthe Combination of structionvitwill be seen `lthat there is no an open fronted easing; 2a .holder secured possibilitvofl both slides -91 being operated :to the'jrontof sai'dCaSing; a lshield havingV p atiheqsame-time. Y indicationA perforations'therein; and slides 35 ln'the casing 1 immediately behind the in 'front of Tand :normallyeoncealing said 100 central .opening in 4the shield 8 .is placed a .=peifoifationsz.but Islidalolefwithin'the casing .lamp 2Q, andshining through said opening .relative to said sliieldlto expose said perfoacts asthetail light for the vehicle. rationsand means behind therfshield V'illulnvpraetice the shicldiS will be ot a white. ininatingvthe .interior of! the casing.

4U, or other light color, while the coloredA fQQln a'vehicle'.signal,'tl1e combination 0f. 105' screen E23 will be red. an open `fronted xcasing; a holder secured The operation of vthe device is as follows. to 'thefirontof sauleasing.; a shieldlnhaving When the driver intends to stop the car7 -an opening. atuitsxceutrefand an indication hewill, oiveourse, operate his'brake pedal, perforation at each end; a slide inffront of Y 5" which draws iuponl'the cable 16 to move andinorinally.concealing one of saidlwindiea- 110 ,thestopslide V1,0 behind 'the central opening tion perforations; a slide in 'front of and fin thefshicld B so that the wordV Stop ynornially concealing Vthe other L indication iis exposed. .-lVhen the driver .intends to perforation; Va slide `having an indication turnto theright, he draws on the cablelr' perforationI therein inountedfbehind the to nieve. the `slide .9 to expose the arrow shield Iand"adaptedto 'be exposed through 115 pointing to the right, and,at`the same time7 the Central openingin the shield; and means throughthe engagement ott-he lug on the ftorinoi'ing .any/one otsaid slides t0 give vvslide f9 withthe lug on the slide 10, the .an indication. l.

slide :10.is moved with the slide 9 so that Y3.fln.a'vehielesignal,ithecombination oiV theslideflO-does not interfere with the eX- an open '.lzronted` easing; aliolder secured 12 posingot lthe Right arrow. Then the tofthesfront'ot said ca ing; a shieldhaving ..dpiverntenfds;to*turn t0 the left, he draws an;` opening vat its centre and'angi'ndication Y `onwthefcable 1.8 to move the other slide 9A ipertoration at each en'd'; a slide-normally I f-to expose the' arrow-pointing to Athelett. closing one of said indicationlperf-orationsg "9* lAs the cables are released the springs va slide nbrma'lly-closingthe'otherindication 125 returngi'the various slides t'o normal or nonperforation; a slide -having'an indication indicatingposition. perforation `mounted"` therein' jibehind lthe sfydesireda similar-device mayhe used shield andla'dapted Ato .be Y' exposed through -at-t-he'irontof the car, `but in this case it the central opening 'in the shield'gand means Ywillznot. be .necessary nto providefthe een for moving-anyone of 'said Aslides *t give l.

an indication, said first mentioned slide being adapted When moved to engage and simultaneously move the last mentioned slide.

4. In a vehicle signal, the combination of anV open fronted casing; a holder secured to the front of said casing; a shieldhaving indication perforations therein; a transparent screen behind said shield, said shield and screen being of contrasting colors; slides in front of and normally concealing the said perforations but 'slidable relative 'to said shield to expose said screen; and means Within the casing terior of the casing.

In a vehicle signal, the combination of an open fronted casing .a holder secured to the front of said casing; a shield having an opening at its centre and an indication perforation at each end; a slide normally closing one of said indication perforations; a slide normally closingv theV other indication perforation, each of said slides having a lug thereon;cables for actuating said slides to expose the indication perforations; and a compression springV mounted on said cables and engaging said lugs tending to keep the slides separated. Y

6. In a vehicle signal, the combination of an open fronted casing; a holder secured to the front of said casing', a shield having an opening at its centre and an indication perforation at each end', a slide normally closing one of said indication perforations; aV

slide normally closing the other indication perforation; a slide m'ounted behind the first mentioned slide, each of said slides havn ing a lug thereon, the lug on the `first mentioned slide When moved being adapted to engage the lug on the last mentioned slide to move the latter. Y

7 In a vehicle signal, the combination of an open fronted casing; a holder secured to the front of said casing; a shield having an opening at itscentre and an indication perforation at eachV end; a slide normally closing one of said indication perforations; a slide normally closing the other indication perforation; a slide mounted behind the first mentioned slide; cables for actuating said slides to expose indication perforations; on the cables for the tioned slides and slides tending to each of the slides having af lug thereon, the lug on the first mentioned slide when moved first and second menengaging the lugs in said for illuminating the' inv and a compression spring mounted keep the slides separated, t

being adapted to engage the lug on the last mentioned slide to move the latter.

8. In a vehicle signal, the `combination of an open fronted casing; a guide at, one side voffsaid casing; a guide parallel to the first mentioned guide but spaced from the opposite side of said casing; a shield having an indication therein adjacent each end and an vopening at its centre and supported between said guides; a transparent screen behind lsaid shield, shield and screen being of Vcontrastnig colors; slides supported by said guides and movable in front of and normally concealing the perforations but slidable Within the casing relative to said shield to expose the perforations; a sign plate between the second mentioned guide and the side'of the casing; and means for illuminating the interior ofthe casing.

9. Ina vehicle signal, the combination of an open fronted casing; a`holder secured to the front of said casing; a shield having indication perforations therein; slides in front of and normally concealing said perforations but slidable Within the casing relative to said shield to expose said perforations; a resilient member engaging both of said slides tending to hold each of them in nonindicating position; and means behind the shield for illuminating the interior of the casing. Y

10, In a vehicle signal, the combination of an open'fronted casing; a holder secured to the front of said casing; a opening at its centre and an indication perforation at each end; and slides in front of and `normally concealing said perforations but slidable within the casing relative to said shield to expose said perforations; and means behind the shield illuminating the interior of the casing.

1l. In a vehicle signal, the combination of an open fronted casing; a holder secured to the front of said casing; a shield having an indication perforation at each end; a slide in front of and normally concealing one of said indication perforations; a second slide in front of and normally concealing the other indication perforation; a third slide having an indication perforation there on mounted behind the first mentioned slide; and means fer moving any one of said slides to give an indication.

Signed at Toronto April 1922.

' JOHN Can. this 21st day of ELMER inrrnnnroin).

shield having an MBO 

